thomas



(No Model.)

J. P. & D. J. THOMAS.

I MORTAR TUB.

No. 280,415. Patented July 3, 1883.

u. PETERS. Pm sw m Waningmn. n 1

UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN P. THOMAS AND DANIEL J. THOMAS, OF TURNERS FALLS, MASS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,415, dated July 3, 1883,

Application filed March 12, 1883. (No model.)

To on whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN P. THOMAS and DANIEL J. THOMAS, citizens of the United States, residents of Turners Falls, in the county of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mortar-Tubs, of which the following is a true and full specification.

At the present time brick-laying is carried on during the winter months by the use of mortar mixed and tempered with warm water. This is only done by heating water on the ground or in the cellar of the building being erected, and the labor of heating and carrying up the hot water in buckets, especially when the work has attained any considerable height,

two or three stories of a building, is almost as much as the laying of the bricks. Our invention dispenses with most of this labor, and enables us to have our mortar constantly warm and always handy to use.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention and form part of the specification.

Figure 1 is a broken-away sectional view of the complete arrangement. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

The mortar-tub G is a cylindrical metal vessel, commonly of sheet-iron, about sixteen or eighteen inches high and about twelve or fourteen inches in diameter, or of the capacity of a common mortar-tub. The side of this tub is made to extend two or three inches below the bottom, and supports it, having large holes cut through it below the bottom of the tub, to allow a free passage of water under as well as around the tub.

The water-vessel B is made of metal of the same height as the tub, but about two inches larger in diameter. This is kept full of hot water when the tub O is placed within it, and the mortar always kept warm. On the outside of this water-tank, at opposite points, and midway the handles, are made two pockets, of iron, D D, about siX inches wide, and running to a point down at about half-way the length of the tank, and from one to two inches in depth. These pockets are riveted water-tight to the side of the vessel or tank, through which,

K into them, is an opening toward the lower end,

to allow the hot water to enter. These pockets are used for wetting and warming-the trowels, which in very cold weather become covered at once with afilm of frozen mortar, which increases at every laying, and has constantly to be knocked off, to the annoyance of the workman and waste of mortar. By our de- "vice the mason can, without any delay, as he takes a trowelful of mortar from the tub, thrust his trowel into the hot water in one of these pockets, loses no time, and works with much greater ease. On the upper edge of this tank we place hooks E E, usually three, distributed equidistant, made so as to catch over the edge of the mortar-tub when in the hot water, to keep it in position and to prevent its floating when nearly empty.

A is the fire-pan, which is larger than the water-tank by from two to four inches, and is of any suitable depth to hold asmall fire, usually from ten to twelve inches. This has a bottom, and holes cut around at various points in the side to make a draft. Across this firepan, and usually a few inches down from the top, are bars or a grate placed across, upon which the water-tank B rests. The fire-pan, water -tank, and mortar-tub have suitable handles conveniently placed for use. It is intended commonly to burn charcoal in this pan,

as being safer on a scaffold than wood, and,

perhaps, cheaper; but wood or hard coal. can be used, if desired; but we have found that less than a bushel of charcoal will, with care, keep all the fire necessary for a days work.

The advantages from the use of this tub have proved very great. The fire-pan is placed on the scaffold, with alayer of bricks under it to keep it from burning the plank. The fire is lighted, the water-tank, partly filled, is set on, the mortar-tub placed in it, and the mortar soon becomes warm. The men work much more rapidly, easily, and of course more economically. They keep their trowels warm and free from frozen mortar, and, what is no small item, they are able to warm their hands and fingers readily and often, to their great relief.

We have found this winter that about twentyfive per cent. was saved in the labor account Q 2SOAl5 vided with trowel-pockets formed upon its sides, arranged to (*OlllllllllllfifltG with said mt ter-vessel by openings in the walls of the hitter, which allow the water to pass freely to the clogged trowels to clear them for active use, as set forth.

2. In it device for holding mortar, the combination, with the water-tank, of the mortarvessel suspended upon said water-tank, as and 10 for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the water-ta nk and mortar-vessel, of the fire-pan provided with suitable supporting-bztrs for the said watertuuk, as and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN P. THOMAS. DANIEL J. THOMAS.

lVitnesses JAMES S. GRINNELL, WM. ALLEN. 

